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Thread: What have you learnt from your dancing?

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    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Smile What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Besides how to dance, what have you learnt from your dancing?

    I posted this on my blog earlier, but thought it deserved greater exposure... (and more smilies!)
    <hr> Now my Grand Tour of Scotland is over, I thought I should have a look back at the whole experience and see what I can learn from the experience...

    Let's see... We'll mix the good with the bad...
    • Don't dance with indigestion.
    • Don't have the pasta at the next Musselburgh comp (maybe related with the previous point?)
    • Don't expect to feel good about your standard of dancing at a competition unless you win something.
    • Don't try to take photos of dancers in action without a flash unless you've got a tripod, and a very fast exposure on your camera.
    • Don't expect your dancing to up to scratch when you're mentally and physically tired.
    • You can enter a competition and not do well and the world doesn't end.
    • You have to be careful of dancers who will hurt you pretty much everywhere you go.
    • Sometimes it's the dancers that can hurt you that will also give you the best dances.
    • The very best dancers will only give you heart-ache.
    • Don't try to go to Aberdeen when there's an oil conference on.
    • Take chocolate with you.
    • A lack of people, especially women, can diminish an otherwise good night.
    • It's difficult to learn complex moves when you're sitting off at the side for a third of the class.
    • Learning the same move three times in a week doesn't always help.
    • Everywhere you go to dance, if you're prepared to work a little, you'll have a great time.
    • Good dance shoes can still lead to sore feet.
    • Scottish Ceroc dancers are the greatest bunch of people.
    • English Ceroc dancers are an alright bunch too.
    • In fact, where-ever you come from, you're probably cool, as most people are good, honest, kind, and helpful.
    • We have a fantastic bunch of teachers.
    • We have some of the best DJs in the UK.
    • Seducers are lovely.
    • Aberdeen had the best buzz.
    • Dundee had the most enthusiastic dancers.
    • Edinburgh had the best looking women (but it's a close contest!)
    • Nothing beats Glasgow though.
    • Sitting on a train with nothing to do for three hours can be a good time for reflection.
    • Especially in the windows.
    • As an adult, you really shouldn't sit on a train sucking your thumb.
    • It's nice to go away once in a while.
    • It's nice to come home too.
    • It's good to hear that you've been missed.
    • Not dancing can make you grumpy.
    • Dancing makes you happy.


    What other things have I missed? What have you learnt from your reflections on dancing?
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    Sometimes it's the dancers that can hurt you that will also give you the best dances.
    Eh?

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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    [*] The very best dancers will only give you heart-ache.
    I'll vouch for that...

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    Registered User LMC's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    < snips bits which don't apply at all or at least quite so much >[*] Everywhere you go to dance, if you're prepared to work a little, you'll have a great time.[*] In fact, where-ever you come from, you're probably cool, as most people are good, honest, kind, and helpful.[*] Seducers are lovely.[*] Not dancing can make you grumpy.[*] Dancing makes you happy.[/list]


    I can't remember who said dancing is too important to take too seriously - I try to keep that in mind, because I know I frequently get over-analytical about stuff

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    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by JoC
    Eh?
    I know some women that will give you a great dance, but often at the expensive of a bit of yanking or death-gripping.

    You've got to decide whether the quality of the dance is worth the pain.

    I'd guess it works the other way around, but maybe not?
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    { snip big list }
    What other things have I missed? What have you learnt from your reflections on dancing?
    Funnily enough, I did something similar here - but nothing like as comprehensive, nice one

  7. #7
    Registered User LMC's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    I know some women that will give you a great dance, but often at the expensive of a bit of yanking or death-gripping.

    You've got to decide whether the quality of the dance is worth the pain.

    I'd guess it works the other way around, but maybe not?
    Hmmmm, interesting...

    For me, NEVER - I was very shallow recently on my first visit to a venue and rather pleased when a good-looking guy who had been friendly in class asked me for a dance. Never again - hadn't noticed in the one beginner class rotation I was partnered with him, but in freestyle he was way off beat and had the worst death grip and bouncy hand (which makes the lead unclear to a beginner like me).

    Perhaps because as a leader you are (theoretically in some cases I know ) in control of the dance, the pleasure is worth the pain. As a follower, I can flex my fingers to loosen a death grip (or even let go if needed) and I'm strong enough to resist most yanking (for the first time ever on Saturday I had such a bad one that I got cross enough to yank right back - and told him why!). But it's never ever pleasurable to react to negative aspects of a lead.

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    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames
    Funnily enough, I did something similar here - but nothing like as comprehensive, nice one
    I knew I'd seen something similar before, but couldn't find it.

    Like your list too though!
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    No one is 'too good a dancer' to ask for a dance.

    Sure they might say no, but thats their problem.....as highlighted by LMC. Did i mention i found that incredibly amusing?

    I think it's laughable and i am yet to witness anyone in this country on the MJ scene that is so utterly fantastic that they think they have the right to treat people the way they do.

    I can't wait to come to Hammersith

    fc x

  10. #10
    TiggsTours
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    A lack of people, especially women, can diminish an otherwise good night.
    Pah! Speak for yourself!

    A lack of people can often be a great night, so long as the right people are the ones that show up,

    and a lack of women!? Typical man to complain about that one! It happens so rarely (as opposed to the opposite) that for us girlies it leads to a great, and surprising, night, and for you guys, its always good to get a chance to experience what we girlies have to deal with all the time!

    As for other things learnt from dancing?

    If you don't like something, don't do it, it doesn't mean having to sacrifice the parts you do like.

  11. #11
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by filthycute
    i am yet to witness anyone in this country on the MJ scene that is so utterly fantastic that they think they have the right to treat people the way they do.
    Ooh, a hotshot comment

    No-one, ever, does have the right to be rude that way. If you're at an MJ dance venue, you're there to dance with people. Story, end of.

    However, there are some people (and the numbers of such people is debatable) who think they have that "right". Normally, the numbers of these corporate-lawyer-equivalents are low, in the same way there are other undesirables in the MJ scene (e.g. pervs). But they can occasionally clump like germs, hence the need for some serious Dettol-ing.

    Quote Originally Posted by filthycute
    I can't wait to come to Hammersith
    Nah, they'll all be busted by next time you visit.

    Quote Originally Posted by TiggsTours
    A lack of people can often be a great night, so long as the right people are the ones that show up,
    Hmmm, I'm coming around to this point of view. The trick, as always, is getting the right people. But then we'd be accused of being elitist hotshots, oops...

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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    What have you learnt from your reflections on dancing?
    I read a webcomic recently, where the heroine was taking an African Dance class, and muttered "I am so white" as a despairing aside. That rang a bell - though for me it was "I am so white male". Where the heck are my hips?

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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    I know some women that will give you a great dance, but often at the expensive of a bit of yanking or death-gripping.

    You've got to decide whether the quality of the dance is worth the pain.

    I'd guess it works the other way around, but maybe not?
    Care to elaborate on the pluses that cancel out the yanking and death-gripping? They would be part of my quality assessment if I was being so analytical.

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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by MartinHarper
    though for me it was "I am so white male". Where the heck are my hips?


    FYI: the celts tens to have rhythm. Saxons and Normans, am not so sure about....

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    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    I know some women that will give you a great dance, but often at the expensive of a bit of yanking or death-gripping.
    is that a GOOD Dance


    --ooOoo--
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    Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
    That date is recognized as her official birthday.

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    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by TiggsTours
    A lack of people can often be a great night, so long as the right people are the ones that show up,
    That's certainly true. Later in my list I said:
    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    Everywhere you go to dance, if you're prepared to work a little, you'll have a great time.
    Because, on the night I was thinking of, putting in a little extra effort paid off.
    Quote Originally Posted by TiggsTours
    and a lack of women!? Typical man to complain about that one! It happens so rarely (as opposed to the opposite) ...
    I can only reflect on the experience from a man's point of view. Why I feel it's worse if there are extra men, is that if you're a good follower, you won't need to practice a move as much as any lead. So, when I was only taking part for two thirds of the class I found learning some moves very difficult. I'd imagine it would not be as great a problem for most women. But any large imbalance isn't good.
    Quote Originally Posted by TiggsTours
    As for other things learnt from dancing?

    If you don't like something, don't do it, it doesn't mean having to sacrifice the parts you do like.
    Yep.
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M
    is that a GOOD Dance
    It'd certainly be better if the yanking and death-grip wasn't there, but it can still be fun. Sometimes I just have to go with the flow and allow myself to enjoy the good while trying to minimise the bad.
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  18. #18
    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by JoC
    Care to elaborate on the pluses that cancel out the yanking and death-gripping? They would be part of my quality assessment if I was being so analytical.
    Sure... The main things that can really make a dance special for me, despite the risk of pain, are all to do with the attitude of my partner.
    • She's giving me lots of (sexy) eye-contact and smiles – especially in closer moves, like baskets, or combs.
    • She is enthusiastic, letting herself just go with the music, without inhibition.
    • She is a good dancer, can follow well and is in time with the music.
    • She can improvise when called upon to do so, or even when not!

    Are there no guys like this? Perhaps it's just harder for guys to give good attitude, while women can be less inhibited. I'd be interested in women's impressions.
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  19. #19
    TiggsTours
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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M
    is that a GOOD Dance
    I certainly wouldn't have thought so. I'd say a GOOD dance is all about connection and sharing, not about the fantastic moves put in, and the fact the girl span 16 times on 1 beat!

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    Re: What have you learnt from your dancing?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi
    [*] She is a good dancer, can follow well and is in time with the music.
    I would have thought this means no death grip or yanking. But each to their own interpretation.

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